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Jade

I’ll be fine, guys. I’ll scream if I need help. I’m sure one of you will hear me.

The door opened just as I put my phone away.

“You’re here early,” Gabriel said. “And you have a bag.”

“I’ll stay here.”

“Jade!” Agnes was bouncing on the couch. “Come over here! We should watch movies!”

“I’ll be there in a second.”

“You’re staying here?” Gabriel asked.

“It would be best. My apartment is only one bedroom.”

“I was thinking I could have them go with Atticus and⁠—”

“No!” Beatrice said. “I don’t like him as much as Jade!”

“Please no!” Agnes echoed.

I grinned, knowing Gabriel was weak the second either one of them said please. “Seems like they want me here.”

Gabriel sighed. “Fine.”

“Anything you don’t want me to snoop through?”

“If I tell you, you’ll definitely snoop through it.”

“I will, but I’ll try not to.”

He laughed. “Luckily for my own sanity, I have nothing to hide here.”

“So, you have something somewhere else to hide?”

“Not answering that.”

“Damn. I’d love to learn all your little secrets.”

“That’ll have to wait.” He gestured for me to come in. “You live next door, so you hear how wild they can be.”

“Yes, I do. I’m prepared for the most dramatic few days of my life, but that brings me to point one. Remind me how long you’re gone for.”

“Is it forever?” Beatrice asked.

“No,” he said. “Only two days.”

“Are you in a rush to get back or something?” I asked.

“I’m making sure you don’t lose your mind.”

“That seems like a challenge,” I said. “So now I’ll do even better.”

Gabriel eyed me, and I knew he was wondering if I was really up to this. A part of me wondered the same thing.

But I’d prepared for this. I would be tired, but I would do my best. Despite me not having kids of my own, I felt like I could do this.